Celebrating Honorary Awards in Education

Brunel University London is delighted to offer Honorary Bachelor of Education awards to alumni who were previously awarded a Certificate in Education from one of our predecessor colleges; Shoreditch College of Education, Maria Grey College, Borough Road College or The West London Institute of Higher Education.

These Certificates in Education were originally awarded by the University of London, Institute of Education. To celebrate the conferral of awards and the contribution of the University’s alumni, our special ceremonies will be held at our Uxbridge campus (Kingston Lane, UB8 3PH) on Friday 19 July, 2024.

If your circumstances have changed and you are now unable to attend the ceremony, then please let us know by emailing HonoraryTeachingDegrees@brunel.ac.uk.

This webpage will be updated when new information becomes available, so please keep checking back regularly. Last updated: 23 April 2024

Follow these steps to receive your Honorary Bachelor of Education award:

Step 1: Register and verify your award (October 2023 - 4 April 2024)

The registration portal closed on 4 April.

However, if you hold a Certificate of Education from one of our predecessor colleges - Shoreditch College of Education, Maria Grey College, Borough Road College, The West London Institute of Higher Education then we invite you to express your interest in applying to be considered for an honorary award in the future by using this form: https://marketingbrunel.typeform.com/to/L7H60uYv.

Please be ready to complete our online form and provide the documents requested:

Current valid form of photographic ID (eg: passport/driving licence)
Documents to prove name change since award (marriage certificate, deed of change of name)
If available, a copy of your original Certificate in Education issued by the University of London

Pease allow time for us to process your interest and verify your eligibility. We are aiming to contact anyone who registers now in early 2025.

Step 2: Confirming attendance and ticket requirements (March 2024 to 1 May 2024)

If you registered before the April deadline and have not yet heard from us, rest assured that we are still in the process of verifying applicants and apologise for the delay.

Once all applicants have been verified for their eligibility, either of the following will apply:

If you have informed us that you are unable attend the event on Friday, 19 July 2024, we will make arrangements to post your certificate.
If you are planning to attend, you will be emailed a link to allow you to book your tickets for the ceremony and hire a gown if you wish. Initially, due to demand we are only able to offer 2 guest tickets per Alumni attending, however we hope to be able to offer a further allocation of tickets and information will be sent after the deadline for this step which is midnight 1 May 2024.

We are hoping to offer a second allocation of guest tickets on 14 May and if available additional tickets will need to be purchased by 31 May 2024. Further details regarding the second allocation will be published here.

Please note all tickets (Alumni and guests) will be charged at £15 each.

Step 3: Get ready for your Ceremony (May 2024 - 19 July 2024)

Closer to the event we’ll share more information via email about what to do on the day such as where to register, where to collect your gown, obtain official photography etc.

For those interested in wearing a gown for the ceremony, the following illustrates the colour and look of official Brunel University London gowning.

Our gowning company have the following guidance on what to wear under your gown: What To Wear Under Your Graduation Robes

Information about Photography

Avoid long queues on the day and book your official Graduation photography by Monday 8 July

Visit Ede and Ravenscroft
Under ‘New Customer’ type ‘Brunel University’ into the search box and click find.
It should show ‘Brunel University London’, press submit
Select the date and time of your graduation.
On the next page, check the University, date and time are correct and press submit.
Scroll down this page to ‘Photography’ and select ‘View Options’.
View the options available and add the one’s you want to buy to your cart.
Proceed to checkout to buy.
Please print off your final photography confirmation email along with the attachment. This will save you having to complete another form on the day.
On the day photographs can be taken before or after your ceremony. But please ensure you’re seated in the ceremony hall in the IAC at least 30 minutes before it starts.

There will also be an opportunity to buy the photos taken when your cross the stage after your ceremony in the Graduation Marquee.

Will I be photographed on the day?

Please note as graduation ceremonies are regarded as official University events, those attending a ceremony at Brunel University London should note that they may be photographed and/or filmed while on campus. Photos/film footage may be used in Brunel's promotional materials (including the University's website).

We will try to ensure that attendees are aware they have been photographed and/or filmed and are willing to have this material published if required. However, because of the nature of the event, this may not always be possible.

Do I have to order in advance?

Official graduation photos can be bought on the day in the Netball Hall. However to avoid long queues on the day we advise you pre-book.

Will my guests be able to take photographs inside the theatre?

Your guests will be able to take photographs inside the theatre providing that they do not place themselves in positions that block any exits from the theatre, block the view of another guest or interfere with any Graduation processes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is eligible for an Honorary Bachelor of Education award?

Former students of Shoreditch College of Education, Shoreditch Training College, Maria Grey College, Borough Road College or the West London Institute of Higher Education who were awarded a Certificate in Education up until the early 1980s by the University London, Institute of Education.

How will we be remembering and honouring those who are no longer with us?

After careful consideration we have decided to review how we would honour those who have passed away since completing their studies.

We will be including a commemorative page within our ceremony programme to remember those who are no longer with us.

Our guidelines for posthumous awards are as follows and for GDPR purposes we please ask that in each case you supply a copy of the death certificate and proof of award (ideally the original award certificate):

For an alumni member who has passed away since we have been able to offer this opportunity in August 2023 we will bestow an honorary award and loved ones can have the opportunity to attend the ceremony or receive a certificate by post. If our team has not contacted you directly, then please email HonoraryTeachingDegrees@brunel.ac.uk.
For any alumni who passed away before August 2023 and whose loved ones have been in contact with us, we will bestow an honorary award in absentia, meaning we will post a certificate following the event.
Anybody applying from April 23rd onwards, as the deadline for July 2024 registration has closed we invite you to complete our expression of interest form to put a loved one forwards for consideration for a future honorary award.

Why are these Awarding Events happening now?

Until the 1980s, teachers were typically trained on two-year or three-year certificate course at teacher training colleges, which were nationally organised into area training groups under the administrative control of the Area Training Centres. 

There has been a movement across the higher education sector for the thousands of individuals who received teaching certificates between the 1930s and the 1980s to be awarded an Honorary Bachelor of Education award at special ceremonies.

How can I get a replacement certificate for my original award?

Information regarding access to academic records can be found here: Awarding History | Brunel University London

Will I need to attend my ceremony in person?

We understand that not everybody will be able to attend the ceremony in person. Therefore, we ask any alumni who meet the eligibility criteria above to complete this form as we are offering the chance to be awarded in absentia.

What should I do if I can no longer attend (having previously registered)?

If your circumstances have changed since completing registration and you are now unable to attend the ceremony, then please let us know by emailing HonoraryTeachingDegrees@brunel.ac.uk.

Privacy Policy

We are committed to protecting your privacy. Our privacy policy includes details of how we hold and process your data as alumni. Read our privacy policy.

If you have any questions or wish to update your preferences at any time, please contact the Brunel Development and Alumni Relations Office at honoraryteachingdegrees@brunel.ac.uk.
In addition, the information supplied will be used to administer your awards event. This includes:

Allocation and ability for you to purchase event tickets
Enable seating and award presentation
Enable provision as appropriate and reasonable, for awarding honoraries and their guests with additional needs
As a guide for catering requirements
All copies of ID presented as part of the verification process and event planning will be confidentially destroyed/deleted once all processes are completed.

Cancellation Policy for events beyond our control

Although we are planning to hold this event in person, Government guidelines and social restrictions at the time may force us to cancel or change the planned event – please take this into account if you or your guests are planning to travel to the event as the University cannot be held liable for any cancellations and expenses you may incur.

While every effort will be made to host awarding events as planned, the University will not be liable to you in any manner whatsoever for any failure or delay, or for the consequences of any failure or delay, in performance of any contract with you if it is due to any event or circumstance beyond our reasonable control including, but not limited to:

Strikes
lockouts or other industrial action or disputes (whether involving our workforce or any other party)
acts of God
epidemic, pandemic, quarantine or widespread illness (whether affecting our staff and/or student body or otherwise)
any law or any action taken by government or public authority
governmental requisitioning, emergency planning or provision
war, protests, fire, flood, storm, tempest, explosion, collapse of buildings
interruption or failure of utility service
an actual, suspected or threatened act of terrorism
riot
civil commotion
national emergencies
breakdown of plant or machinery
actions or defaults of placement providers
default of suppliers or sub-contractors

The University, therefore, strongly advises you and your guests to ensure you have sufficient insurance protection to cover any losses you may incur as a result of postponement, change or cancellation of ceremonies and book flexible rates for travel and accommodation wherever possible.

The contract between you and Brunel is governed by English Law. You and Brunel both agree that the English and Welsh courts have jurisdiction over any disputes that may arise under this contract. However, if you are a resident of Northern Ireland you may also bring proceedings in Northern Ireland, and if you are a resident of Scotland, you may also bring proceedings in Scotland.

This contract is between you and Brunel, and no other third party shall be entitled to make any claim in connection with it by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

Each of the provisions above is separate and severable. Accordingly, if any court or body or authority of competent jurisdiction finds any such provision to be illegal, unlawful, void or unenforceable this will not affect the remainder of those provisions which will continue in full force and effect.

Please note that the ability to participate and view the celebration live stream on the day will depend upon a number of factors beyond the University’s control, such as the user’s browser, system and bandwidth. It is therefore impossible to guarantee that the streaming will be viewable to all.

Brunel may update these terms and conditions and any guidance on graduation ceremonies at any time.

We will update the page when further information becomes available, so be sure to check back here regularly. In the event of any postponement, change or cancellation, the University will contact each attending student directly with as much notice as is reasonably practical.